Shaoxing: India’s women’s 4x100m relay team delivered a stunning performance to clinch the gold medal at the Asian Relay Championships 2026, silencing the home crowd in China with a tactically brilliant and technically flawless run.

The Indian quartet of S. S. Sneha, Sudeshna Shivankar, Tamanna and veteran anchor Srabani Nanda clocked a season-best time of 43.85 seconds to secure the top spot on the podium.

Host nation China claimed the silver medal in 44.09 seconds, while Thailand took bronze with a time of 44.11 seconds in a closely contested finish.

Tactical masterclass delivers gold

The Indian team, coached by Martin Owens of the Reliance Foundation, executed their race strategy to perfection.

In relay races, smooth baton exchanges often make the difference between victory and defeat, and India’s precision inside the exchange zones proved decisive against the highly favoured Chinese team.

The quartet’s disciplined execution and clean handovers enabled them to edge ahead in a thrilling final and claim one of India’s most significant relay victories in recent years.

Videos of the Indian team’s gold-winning run in Shaoxing quickly went viral on social media, drawing praise from athletics enthusiasts across the country.

Tamanna and Sneha claim second medals

The gold medal capped an impressive weekend for Tamanna and S. S. Sneha, who both finished the championships with two medals each.

Earlier in the competition, the duo joined Animesh Kujur and Pranav Gurav to secure a bronze medal in the mixed 4x100m relay.

The Indian quartet clocked 41.27 seconds to finish on the podium and add another medal to the country’s tally.

India finish with three medals

India completed a three-medal haul at the championships with a silver medal in the mixed 4x400m relay.

The team comprising Theerthesh P Shetty, M. R. Poovamma, Barath Sridhar and Neeru Pathak clocked 3:17.06 to finish second.

However, the longer relay events proved more challenging for India. The women’s 4x400m team narrowly missed a podium finish, ending fourth with a time of 3:34.88, while the men’s team finished fifth in 3:05.33.

Vietnam dominated the 4x400m events, winning gold medals in both the men’s and women’s categories.

Focus shifts to Asian Games

For veteran sprinter Srabani Nanda, whose international career spans more than two decades, the gold medal represents another milestone and reinforces her belief in clean sport.

“I will definitely say that it is very important to stay clean and that gives a lot of confidence. And you can focus on your competition,” Nanda said, reiterating her anti-doping stance.

She added that athletes must change the mindset that success is impossible without performance-enhancing drugs.

Despite an intense training schedule, Nanda said the primary objective for the season remains the upcoming Asian Games in Japan.

“For this season, the main goal is the Asian Games and I am hoping for the best,” she said.

With Chandigarh set to host the next edition of the Asian Relay Championships in 2027, India’s sprinters have ensured they return home from China with continental bragging rights and renewed confidence ahead of the Asian Games.